coin

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈkȯin 

1

archaic

a

: corner, cornerstone, quoin

b

: wedge

2

a

: a usually flat piece of metal issued by governmental authority as money

b

: metal money

c

: something resembling a coin especially in shape

d

: a unit of a cryptocurrency

These products allow investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without owning the actual coins.

—Lisa Loud

3

: something used as if it were money (as in verbal or intellectual exchange)

… perhaps wisecracks … are respectable literary coin in the United States …

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

would repay him with the full coin of his mind

—Ian Fleming

4

: something having two different and usually opposing sides

—usually used in the phrase the other side of the coin

5

informal : money

I'm in it for the coin

—Sinclair Lewis

coin

2 of 4

verb

coined; coining; coins

transitive verb

1

a

: to make (a coin) especially by stamping : mint

b

: to convert (metal) into coins

2

: create, invent

coin a phrase

coiner

ˈkȯi-nər 

noun

see also:

coin money

coin

3 of 4

adjective

1

: of or relating to coins

2

: operated by coins

coiner

4 of 4

noun (2)

coin·​er ˈkȯi-nər 

plural -s

: a person or thing that coins something: such as

a

: a maker of coins

b

: one who performs the stamping operation in the manufacture of a coin

She worked at the Denver Mint as a coiner.

c

chiefly British : one who makes coins illegally : counterfeiter

d

: an inventor or fabricator especially of new words or expressions

Synonyms of coin

Noun (1)

• money
• cash
• currency
• coinage
• bucks
• gold

Examples of coin in a Sentence

Noun (1)

I have a dollar in coins.

seeking a job that pays plenty of coin

Verb

The coach coined the phrase “refuse to lose.”

William Shakespeare is believed to have coined many words.

The nation plans to coin more money.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Retail prices for coins and bars typically include premiums above the spot price. —Usa Today, USA Today, 18 June 2026

Archaeologists found the older man with a ring on his left pinkie, 10 bronze coins, a ceramic lamp, and a terracotta mortar, the bowl used with a pestle to mash ingredients. —Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 18 June 2026

Verb

The nickname Tartan Army was coined by British sports journalists in the 1970s to describe the massive traveling support of the Scotland national football team. —Miami Herald, 19 June 2026

It was coined in Japan in the 1990s for small pictorial symbols used in electronic messaging. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Adjective

The victim told him where to find a bedroom safe and coin jar, which together contained $230. —Kim Chatelain, NOLA.com, 21 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French coing wedge, corner, from Latin cuneus wedge

Noun (2)

Middle English coyner, from coynen + -er

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

circa 1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing coin

• challenge coin
• coin flip
• coin money
• coin of the realm
• coin-op
• fleur de coin
• initial coin offering
• meme coin
• sandwich coin
• the other/opposite/flip side of the coin
• toss/flip a coin
• two sides of the same coin

Rhymes for coin

• coyne
• groin
• join
• koine
• loin
• moine
• quoin
• adjoin
• benzoin
• bitcoin
• conjoin
• enjoin

Kids Definition

coin

1 of 3 noun

ˈkȯin 

1

: a piece of metal put out by a government authority as money

2

: metal money

three dollars in coin

coin

2 of 3 verb

1

a

: to make (a coin) especially by stamping : mint

b

: to convert (metal) into coins

2

: create, invent

coin a phrase

coiner noun

coin

3 of 3 adjective

1

: of or relating to coins

a coin show

2

: operated by coins

a laundromat's coin washers